Latest Metallica Articles

Metallica closed out the second night of their Orion Music + More festival with a performance of their self-titled 1991 album, better known to most as the "Black Album." You can now watch footage of the band performing "My Friend of Misery" from the festival below.

When Metallica announced their first-ever music festival, it's safe to say there was a healthy dose of skepticism from fans and press alike when they discovered the line-up was far from metal-centric. Boasting a two-day schedule that included indie rock, comedians, metal bands of all stripes, alternative rock, blues and even a brass ensemble, many balked at the band's attempt to bring a "European style" festival to the States.

Yesterday, at the first-annual Orion Music + More festival, Metallica performed their fabled Black Album for the first time on U.S. soil, including the American debut of "The Struggle Within." The performance came as part of a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band's eponymous fifth studio album (which was actually released in 1991.)

Metallica have just uploaded a new clip featuring a live performance of "The Shortest Straw" at the Helsinki, Finland's Sonisohere festival on June 4. Check out the clip below (the performance starts around 1:55).

When the book is closed on Metallica and the final history written, you won't find the word "unambitious" anywhere. In fact, with a busy European festival season nearly behind them, their own Orion Music festival looming, a 3D movie in the works and a new album on the horizon, Metallica are looking to accomplish more this summer than most bands do in a career.

It seems a planned 3D film isn't enough for the incredibly busy members of Metallica. Bassist Robert Trujillo recently told USA Today that he's funding a biopic about the late bass legend Jaco Pastorius.

This month, Metallica are hosting their own festival, the Orion Music + More weekend, which takes place June 23 and 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After that, they'll tour Mexico, where they'll unveil a new 140-by-50-foot stage featuring visual elements spanning their 30-year career.